Mario, Pokemon Among Hundreds At Court For Game Rally

People started lining up at 5am today in front of the US Supreme Court for a chance to hear arguments in a landmark case that will decide whether video games should be afforded First Amendment protection.

Among the more than 200 present were quite a few video game supporters. The rally and line-up to get in also included those on the side of California assemblyman Leland Yee, a child psychologist who wrote a bill in 2005 that would fine a retailer $US1000 for selling really violent games to kids. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it into law later that year.

Only 50 people are allowed into the court's gallery, according to the court's press office.

While we won't be hearing any decisions today we will likely gain insight into why the justices of the US Supreme Court felt it was necessary to take on The State of California vs The Entertainment Merchants Association and Entertainment Software Association as one of the relatively few cases they hear in a given year.

The oral arguments wrap up at 11am EDT (2am AEDT), our man on the ground and in the gallery, Stephen Totilo, will be filing a story summarising the questions asked and answers given during the hearing.

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